(July 16, 2015 at 8:10 pm)Statler Waldorf Wrote: Something written and edited by actual philosophers would be a good start. I have quoted from the two most prominent encyclopedias of philosophy. You have given me nothing in return. Given your logic, theists could simply define their position as, "The true belief that God exists" and then say, "See! God does exist!". No, that is not how it works, atheists try to redefine the word atheism because they are trying to avoid sharing the burden of proof, unfortunately for them it simply does not work that way. Once you have heard the concept of a god, you now either put forth positive belief or disbelief in this god, there is no longer a lack of belief. I ask you to please demonstrate that groups of people are allowed to redefine the meanings of words for the purpose of personal gain. If a married man thinks he is a bachelor it does not make it so.
[My bold.]
This doesn't seem at all obvious to me.
I don't find the unveiling of the "god concept" by theists all that remarkable or compelling. What a 'god' even means is a mystery. Supernatural, what the hell is that?
I certainly don't believe it, but neither am I inclined to argue that gods do not exist. Assertions of any kind regarding that which does not exist make no sense, they fail as propositions. What need have I to go the further step of arguing for the nonexistence of silly stuff?
